Your first step down the aisle

To save money on expensive flowers have an edible center piece that doubles as your favor. For example put candy coated chocolate in your wedding colors in a glass bowl and have empty favor containers around it for guests to scoop them into.
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Michele G

Have a candle party to earn free candles for your wedding...work great for me I got all the candles I needed for the wedding for free ..
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JeneeS.

Bridesmaids can carry beautiful artificial flowers. They look real and just as nice, but are much less expensive and can be fun to make at the bridesmaid's luncheon!
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Emily J

Have a small wedding and make every detail significant. We are writing our own vows, planning a back yard wedding and every detal is going to be home made instead of store bought. My flowers will be dried flowers from our garden, and each part of the day will have more meaning since we are planning it in a simplistic way.
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KristinaH.

As a mother of 4 children and planning a wedding on little money, i shop thrift stores for great deals of wedding items. i spent a total of $75 for all my centerpieces and only $1 for all my table placecards!! It pays to look for the bargains!
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oceanl.

Contact a local cooking school to find an up and coming chef to cater your wedding or to make your wedding cake.
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SarahJ.

Don't let others make your decisions for you. Make sure your day is everything you envisioned it to be and more.
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TraceyR.

If you want your bridesmaids to match, but they are very different body types let them pick out their own dress in your colors. They know what fits their body the best and you still retain veto power.
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KellyeB.

To cut down on your catering costs, request one of your favorite meals. Most caterers will make a menu that you select rather than the expensive choices they offer like filet mingion or costly seafood. For our wedding, we are having all of our Thanksgiving favorites right down to the cranberry sauce and we are paying less for more food because our choices are easier to purchase and since there are less ingredients, the meal costs less to prepare. Don't be afraid to ask for alternatives to the menu they offer.
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Amy-LynnM.

I am cutting down on the open bar. Instead of 2-4hours, I am having just a 1 hour open bar. After that it will be a cash bar. Also, I will not be having an extra course of desserts.
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PaulaS.

Save BIG BUCKS by having a 50-guest wedding at a beautiful restaurant. Perks: the decor and theme is set. You can get personalized menus (since many print their own,). Many order fresh flowers weekly for the tables, and will let you choose the flower type for that particular week! Free centerpieces!!!
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RobinJ.

My fiancé and I decided from the get-go that we wanted a memorable wedding, but we didn’t want to spend a ton. In the end, quality won out over quantity and we agreed to a smaller wedding at an outstanding location. To help cut the costs even lower, we made certain the date was on a Sunday (one of the cheapest days to get married here in CO) as well as arranged with the hotel to have a brunch rather than a dinner (giving us a full ‘food’ station with salads and breakfast foods as well as the guests choice between two dinner entrees or one breakfast meal). These two things alone cut our costs by more than half, and everyone there will have a wonderful afternoon/evening.
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ArmarnaR.

When choosing your bridesmaid style, keep in mind all the different body types you have in your party.
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Alfred Angelo

Many pocketbooks are tight right now. Go for simple but nice and continue to be thankful for what we do have.
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ElizabethB.

Instead of hiring a DJ or band, opt for a free option: your i-Pod. When sending out invitations, have a line for invitees to list their favorite love and dance songs and compile the ultimate playlist. At the reception, you can either keep the i-Pod on shuffle or have an energetic friend/family member act as an impromptu DJ.
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ChristineC.

Visualize when trying on dresses. Imagine yourself at your actual wedding, the setting, your dress,and your reception. This helps you know if you are feeling the dress or if it's onto the next.
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JenniferD.

Have your wedding on another day aside from Friday and Saturday...this will save you big. If you send out the "save a dates" with anticipation, your guest should not have difficulties making arrangements to attend your wedding regardless of the day you have it on.
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JessicaT.

Get someone you know to do your cake. Also you can buy simple dresses for bridesmaids or yourself and have your grandmother put on beading to jazz it up.
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Haylie S.

Try a "Do It Yourself" project like invitations, cake toppers, guest books, favors, and more. This will give you a chance to save money and have fun doing it.
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Kylin C